BenLockwood reviewed Fire & Blood by George R. R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire)
Good, not great
3 stars
It's GRRM, so you know it's not going to be bad. Probably should have been shorter though.
Hardcover, 706 pages
English language
Published April 6, 2018 by Bantam Books.
The first volume of a definitive two-part history of the Targaryens in Westeros is set centuries before the events of "A Game of Thrones" and answers key questions about the dynasty's origins, conflicts and relationships with dragons.
It's GRRM, so you know it's not going to be bad. Probably should have been shorter though.
From Aegon's Conquest to Jaehaerys I ascent and from Viserys I to Aegon III. Will revisit later once House of the Dragon S2 is out.
Most boring book about dragons ever written
Can't wait for the next one.
This book was basically written for me.
This is really excellent. It apes history writing, and sounds a quasi-scholarly tone, so it is very different from the rest of ASOIAF and probably not for everyone, but I loved every page.
This seems to essentially be Martinโs version of The Silmarillion, so if you enjoyed that youโll probably like this too.
The most telling aspect of this book is that there is no map at the beginning. This means that the book, a history of Westeros with constant references to cities and geography, is intended entirely for nerds. If you enjoy the characters and intrigue and suspense of the Game of Thrones TV show, this book is not for you. If you love the narrative perspectives and storytelling of the A Song of Ice and Fire book series, this book is not for you. If you post derogatory comments on Reddit about how a fan drawing of Daenerys doesn't properly represent the purple eyes and silver hair of the Targaryen lineage, then you'll probably like this book.
Begats upon begats, one grisly death or treachery followed by another worse, only finally lightened by the wicked wit of a mushroom